SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The New York State Senate today voted to ban using cash from public assistance money to buy alcohol, tobacco products and lap dances.

The "Public Assistance Integrity Act," which passed 53-4, would prohibit people on welfare and other public help programs from using their "electronic benefits transfer" card at ATMs in liquor stores, casinos and strip clubs. It would also limit people from using cash obtained through public assistance to buy alcohol, cigarettes and lottery tickets.

Cazenovia — The Cazenovia Central School District budget for the 2014-15 school year currently has a gap of three-quarters-of-a-million dollars; and although the state legislature — which has not finalized the budget yet — typically replaces a portion of the education funding stripped by the governor’s budget, no matter what happens, Cazenovia’s district budget will come up short and some budgetary items will not survive.

ALBANY, NY—State Senator David J. Valesky (D-Oneida) today lauded the passage of the state’s fourth and historic consecutive on-time budget. This has not been accomplished with the same Governor and legislative leaders in more than 40 years.

By Tim Knauss on March 31, 2014 at 11:51 AM, updated March 31, 2014 at 2:01 PM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Mayor Stephanie Miner today said she has called on Syracuse's representatives in the state Legislature to continue efforts to secure emergency state funding to pay for city infrastructure, following news that the state budget to be voted on today does not contain such funding.

Miner said she appealed over the weekend to Senators John DeFrancisco and David Valesky and Assemblymen Bill Magnarelli and Sam Roberts to help Syracuse pay for water main repairs, police cars and other expenses the city cannot afford on its own.

Overall, the Executive Budget proposal addresses issues we face every day, including property taxes, jobs, and infrastructure, while keeping spending in check. I am especially encouraged by Governor Cuomo’s continuing commitment to invest in Upstate New York. There is much to consider in this budget proposal, and I look forward to studying the details and discussing it with my constituents and colleagues in the coming weeks, with the goal of enacting and on-time, fiscally responsible budget.

By Tim Knauss on February 06, 2015 at 9:22 AM, updated February 06, 2015 at 9:25 AM

SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Mayor Stephanie Miner said she will continue to seek state money to pay for new water mains in Syracuse, despite Gov. Andrew Cuomo's statement this week that the city should pay for pipes itself by invigorating the local economy.

State legislators from Central New York have promised Miner they will seek additional funding for Syracuse infrastructure in the next state budget, the mayor said Thursday.

Allowing the century-old water system to deteriorate further is not an option, she said.